Dvr System Set-up Question

[yaablett]

Hi, I've just set up my new DVR, a pioneer DVR 550-HX. The set-up was guess work (the instructions just didn't make sense), and while the set-up works, I want to know if I can optimise it in any way. The DVR is connected to a Sony Bravia HDTV, a Sony DST-HD500 set top box and a Fox digital box.

What I have done is this: The aerial is connected to the set top box, and from there a HDMI cable goes into the TV. That part is easy..... The set top box is also connected to the DVR via the RF out port (sorry, don't know the technical jargon!) to the Antenna Digitial In port on the DVR. The DVR is in turn connected to the tv both via the Antenna Digitial Out port in the DVR into the TV's UHF/VHF port and also via the Red, Yellow and White connectors (RF cables?). The DVR is also connected to the Fox box via some more Red, Yellow and White connectors. The Fox box is also connected to the TV via some RYW connectors and is of course connected to its own aerial input.

So the questions are:

1: Is there a better way to set this up?

2: Is the HDMI cable best served going from the set top box to the tv? I can watch pure digital tv this way, but when watching on the DVR where I can pause live footy when the missus annoys me, the quality is less (still good mind you!). Am I better off connecting the DVR to the TV via the HDMI cable, and therefore only ever watching tv on the DVR? What will the quality be like compared to a digitial signal going direct to the tv from the set top box? My TV only has one HDMI port that I can see, so I can't use two HDMI cables.

3: Do I need a connection from the Antenna Digital Out port from the DVR to the TV's VHF/UHF port if I'm also connecting the DVR to the TV via the RYW connectors? The same applies the other way: Do I need the RYW connectors if I have the connection to the VHF/UHF port?

I hope this makes sense. If not, let me know and I'll try to be clearer. What I'm after at the end of the day is the optimal setup for my TV, DVR, Digital set top box and Fox box.

Cheers

Yaablett

Edited May 23, 2008 by yaablett

[diesel]

2: Is the HDMI cable best served going from the set top box to the tv? I can watch pure digital tv this way, but when watching on the DVR where I can pause live footy when the missus annoys me, the quality is less (still good mind you!). Am I better off connecting the DVR to the TV via the HDMI cable, and therefore only ever watching tv on the DVR? What will the quality be like compared to a digitial signal going direct to the tv from the set top box? My TV only has one HDMI port that I can see, so I can't use two HDMI cables.

Just to clarify, do you have the 550HX or 550HXS, the difference being the HXS has SD digital tuner, HDMI and upscaling? If you have the HXS model, I'd connect that using HDMI to utilise it's upscaling abilities and connect the STB via component cable.

The poor quality of recorded material/FTA from the would be because of a combination of one or both of the following;

a: Red, white,yellow RCA or composite cables are the worst possible connection type. You should use HDMI or Component (green, blue,red), as they provide much better PQ

b: If using the tuner from the HX, this is analogue only, resulting in crappy PQ. Either use the tuner from the STB or if the 550HXS then the SD digital tuner

3: Do I need a connection from the Antenna Digital Out port from the DVR to the TV's VHF/UHF port if I'm also connecting the DVR to the TV via the RYW connectors? The same applies the other way: Do I need the RYW connectors if I have the connection to the VHF/UHF port?

I presume your Sony TV doesn't have a DVB tuner built in hence why you use the STB?

If so, then I wouldn't bother connecting the antenna cable to the TV at all. You already have all your FTA needs covered by the STB, Fox box and DVDR.

I would also look at a better connection between the Fox box and the TV - probably scart to component cable, but someone with a Fox box maybe better to confirm this.

Also, if you want to record HD channels on your DVDR, then you'll need a connection between the two to allow this. My suggestion would be S-Video for video and red/white RCA for sound

[yaablett]

Hi, thanks for the reply. Just to confirm, I have the DVR-550HX, which I'm told is the same as the DVR-550HXS. The packaging the machine comes in, the docket and the instruction booklet says DVR-550HXS, while the machine itself just says DVR-550HX. The "s", I'm told, simply means it's a silver box. The HX model has a digital tuner and HDMI upscaling according to its specs. But then if that's the case, why does my machine say "digital services unavailable" when I try to watch digital tv through it? Perhaps I have set it up incorrectly and am bypassing the machine's digital tv capabilities? Furthermore, if the machine supposedly has a digital tuner, then why the hell am I using my set top box???

To answer your question number 2 in your reply, yes, I have a set top box as my Bravia didn't come with one built-in.

Maybe I should just start from the start: Can anyone tell me how I would best set up a system that has a Sony Bravia tv, Pioneer DVR-550HX and a fox box. I also have a digital set top box, but if the machine has one like it says it does, then I assume I don't need it, and there could be a Sony set top box going cheap very soon!!! I want to be able to record both digital tv and fox channels on my DVR. I have one HDMI cable and the tv just has the one HDMI port.

Cheers, and my apologies for being totally untechnical and bewildered.

Yaablett

[diesel]

Firstly check out some of the stickies at the top of the DVD/PVR subforum. Some users have spent condsiderable time trying to set it up to help noobies into the DTV world. It's well worth a read and may answer many of your questions.

Now, back to your questions. The Digital tuner in the Pioneer DVDR is SD only, so it doesn't pick up HD channels. For this reason, you may still want to keep the Sony STB hooked up. Also, have you tuned in the DVB services on the Pioneer?

My thoughts as above are still the same.

ANT->DVDR->HD STB

DVDR->HDMI->TV

Fox->Scart->DVDR Scart input

HD STB-SVideo+L/R Audio->DVDR

HD STB->Component->TV

This way you leave the TV on HDMI input and watch everything through the DVDR. This will allow you to pause live TV, and record both Fox and HD channels as well as SD channels.To simplify the whole setup, I would look at adding in an AVR and speakers or at the very least, a universal remote like the Logitech Harmony 525 available from DSE from $74. The Universal RC can control all the equipment as well as set it all up as per your viewing requirements.

[yaablett]

Will do. Thanks for your help.

Cheers